MArch 7, 2006

Can a Leopard Change its Spots?

A long time ago, the prophet Jeremiah asked an interesting question: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?” (Jeremiah 13:23) While Jeremiah raised the question thousands of years ago, in light of current events here in the middle east, it’s still a pertinent question.

After the stunning victory by Hamas in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, some western nations and some in the western press have strained to find any hint of moderation in the Islamic group.

Consider this one headline in the Jerusalem Post: “Let’s be more flexible on Hamas, some in quartet say.” It quoted one diplomat: “He said that if the international community played its cards right, it ‘could bring them the whole way back’ and get Hamas to accept the Oslo parameters – be prepared to negotiate peacefully with Israel and recognize the right of Israel to exist in peace and security.”

But is that possible? Can a leopard really change its spots? Barry Rubin of the Global Research International Affairs Center warned, “Hamas will to try create an illusion of moderation among foreigners. Its current ‘moderate’ plan states that if Israel concedes everything – withdrawal from all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, while letting all Palestinian refugees come to live in Israel – Hamas will not attack Israel until it decides to do so, but it reserves the right to commit genocide against Israel.”

The intelligence and terrorism information center advised after the election that, “Hamas initiated a Mr. Nice guy campaign for western ears. Senior Hamas officials tried to hide or blur their support of terrorism, their goal of destroying the state of Israel, and their desire to force a radical Islamic regime on the residents of the P.A. and to trumpet slogans which are more acceptable to the West ...”

In fact, even before January’s election, The Guardian reported, “Hamas is paying a spin doctor $180,000 (£100,000) to persuade Europeans and Americans that it is not a group of religious fanatics who relish suicide bombings and hate Jews.” The media consultant even had a list of dos and don’ts for Hamas like: “... Don't talk about destroying Israel ... Do talk about Palestinian suffering.”

It seemed like some Hamas leaders took the advice. Here’s a recent quote from one Hamas leader in the Washington Post: "We do not have any feelings of animosity toward Jews. We do not wish to throw them into the sea. All we seek is to be given our land back, not to harm anybody."
But can a leopard change its spots? Consider Hamas’ past. Hamas is responsible for 58 suicide attacks in the past five years against Israel. 482 people died in those attacks.

Consider its charter. It includes this quote from the Hadith about the Jews: “The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: 'oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,' except for the Gharqad Tree, for it is the tree of the Jews."

Consider article 13 and what it says about international conferences: “... These conferences are nothing but a way to give the infidels power of arbitration over Muslim land, and when have the infidels ever been equitable towards the believers? There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by jihad.”

Consider the recent comments of Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Damascus on February 3. His comments - translated by memri – are a defiant declaration to the west:

"... Today, the Arab and Islamic nation is rising and awakening, and it will reach its peak, Allah willing. It will be victorious. It will link the present to the past. It will open up the horizons of the future. It will regain the leadership of the world. Allah willing, the day is not far off.

“... I say to the [European countries]: hurry up and apologize to our nation, because if you do not, you will regret it. This is because our nation is progressing and is victorious. Do not leave a black mark in the collective memory of the nation, because our nation will not forgive you.

"Tomorrow, our nation will sit on the throne of the world. This is not a figment of the imagination, but a fact. Tomorrow we will lead the world, Allah willing. Apologize today, before remorse will do you no good. Our nation is moving forwards, and it is in your interest to respect a victorious nation.”

Consider: can a leopard change its spots?

Send Chris your comments....